IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, VOL. 17, NO.
2, JUNE 2007
Recent Progress of Power Application
of Superconductor in China
Liye Xiao and Liangzhen Lin
Abstract—The significant progresses in high Tc superconducting
wires or tapes have excited a great deal of research interests in
power application. This paper will review the recent progresses
of power application of superconductor in China. An improved
bridge-type fault current limiter was tested and a 10.5 kV/1.5 kA
demonstrator has been operated at a substation in Hunan Province
in 2005. A 75 meter, 10.5 kV/1.5 kA three phase HTS cable has
been installed and operated at the Changtong Cable Headquarter
in the end of 2004, and a 30 meter, 35 kV/2 kA HTS power cable
was installed at substation and has been operated since July 2004.
A 10.5 kV/400 V/630 kVA HTS transformer has been installed and
operated at TBEA Electric Factory in 2005. A 500 kJ/150 kVA
SMES unit was developed and tested. 1.0 MJ/0.5 MW SMES
will be installed in a power grid in 2006. Besides, a new kind
equipment of fault-current-limiting SMES is being developed and
a 100 kJ/25 kW prototype has been made and tested.
Index Terms—Superconducting fault current limiter, supercon-
ducting magnetic energy storage (SMES), superconducting power
cable, superconducting power transformer.
I. INTRODUCTION
ITH the commercialization of high Tc superconducting
W (HTS) tapes in the latest years of 1990’s, it had excited
worldwide research interests in the power application because
superconductor is very helpful to increase the efficiency as well
as to reduce volume and weight of the power equipments due
to its performance of high engineering current-density and low
power-loss [1]–[3]. Besides, superconductor is also promising
for the application in fault current limiter (FCL) and super-
conducting magnetic energy storages (SMES), which are very
helpful to enhance the stability and reliability of the grid as
well as to improve the power quality [1], [2]. Since the latest
years of 1990’s, full-scale prototypes of FCL, power cables, mo-
tors, transformers made with superconductors especially with
Bi-2223 tapes have been tested and demonstrated in America,
Europe and Japan [1]–[3].
In China, since the year of 2000, the power application re-
search of superconductor has been stressfully supported by the
State “863” Program (High Technology Research & Develop-
ment Program) and the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS),
and the power equipment industries also paid much attention
to the R&D of this new technology. Within few years, super-
conducting power cables, FCL and transformers have been suc-
cessfully made, tested and demonstrated in the live distribution
gird, and SMES units have also been tested. In this paper, we
Manuscript received September 2, 2006.
The authors are with the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China (e-mail: xiao@mail.iee.ac.cn).
Color versions of one or more of the figures in this paper are available online
at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/TASC.2007.898160
1051-8223/$25.00 © 2007 IEEE
Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
2355
will briefly review the state-of-the-art of power applications of
superconductors in China.
II. HTS POWER CABLE
Demand for electric power in China continues to grow dra-
matically year-over-year, power consumption in major urban
centers even grows at double digit rates. Therefore, China would
rapidly need to find innovative ways of delivering huge amounts
of electricity. HTS power cables, which is 3 to 5 times the elec-
tric power capacity [4] as well as 50% reduction the transmis-
sion loss of copper cables, can support general load growth
without renewing the exist cable ducts.
A. Changtong Power Cable Project
The Changtong cable project, which targeted to develop a
3-phase, 75 meter long, 10.5 kV/1.5 kA HTS power cable with
warm-dielectric design, is sponsored by Institute of Electrical
Engineering (IEE), and supported by the “863” Program, CAS
and Changtong Power Cable Company Ltd. The cable con-
ductor and termination were designed and constructed by IEE;
the refrigeration system was made by Technical Institute of
Physics and Chemistry (TIPC); the cable insulation system was
made by Baofeng Cable Group; and the joints for the cable’s
cryogenic envelope were made by Shenzhen Woer Company.
The HTS tapes for the HTS cable are the stainless steel-rein-
forced multi-filamentary Bi-2223/Ag hermetic tapes manufac-
tured by American Superconductor (AMSC). The cable con-
ductor (each conductor for each phase) consists of 36 Bi-2223
tapes spirally reeled into 2 layers on the corrugated pipe, and the
HTS tapes were soldered to the copper terminals using the low-
melting-point alloy solder. The cryogenic envelope for 75-m
long power cable consists of two concentric corrugated stain-
less steel tubes, and the insulation technique for the HTS cable
is designed to be compatible with that of conventional copper
cable. The termination consists of a vacuum chamber, current
leads, liquid nitrogen transfer tube, and thermo-electrical insu-
lator. The main parameters of the HTS cable are given in Table I.
In order to fabricate long HTS power cable with length up
to kilometers in the future, the long-length envelope should be
made. In this project, the joints for the cryogenic envelope were
also made. The cryogenic envelope for 75 m long power cable
made up of three sections connected in series, the length of each
envelope is 25 m. The inter-connecter for connecting the cryo-
genic envelopes was designed and fabricated.
In the installation, the power cable was bent to form a tri-U
shape, simulating the practical laying situation. The overview
of the cable is shown in Fig. 1. In preliminary tests, the crit-
ical current is up to 5 kA (DC), the cable’s rated voltage is up to
10.5 kV, and it has conducted up to 1,600 Amperes (at 400 volts)
2356
TABLE I
DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE 75 meters LONG POWER CABLE
Fig. 1. Overview of the 3-phase, 75 meters long HTS cable.
of alternating electrical current, limited only by the load avail-
able at the factories. After tests, the cable was then connected to
the distribution grid of Changtong Power Cable Company (6.6
kV in rated voltage), serving for 5 factories at the company’s
headquarter. Since December 14, 2004, it has been operated for
more than 7,000 hours without any breakdown.
B. Innopower Cable Project
The cable project, targeted to develop a 3-phase, 30 meter
long, 35 k/2 kA HTS cable, was supported by “863” program,
Beijing City Government and Yunnan Power Company. The
project is sponsored by Innopower Superconductor Cable
Company, the terminator was made by the Institute of Plasma
Physics, the cryogenic envelope and its insulation was made by
Nexsans, the Bi-2223 tapes were supplied by Innova Supercon-
ducting Technology.
The cable is also in warm-dielectric design, the conductor for
each phase is made of 4 layers of Bi-2223 tapes, 21, 24, 24, 21
tapes for each layer respectively, in total, 90 tapes were used for
each phase. The cable was cooled by G-M cryocooler, 7 Cry-
omech AL-300 refrigerators were used. The design parameters
are shown in Table II.
Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, VOL. 17, NO. 2, JUNE 2007
TABLE II
DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE 30 meters LONG POWER CABLE
Fig. 2. The 3-phase, 30 meters long HTS Cable.
After the cable was installed and tested, it was connected to
the Puji Substation near the Kunming city of Yunnan Province.
Fig. 2 shows the cable and its terminator.
III. FAULT CURRENT LIMITER
As the power capacity of China power grid increases quickly,
the short-circuit current also increases significantly, leading to
serious challenges to the stability of the grid as well as to the
safety of the power equipments. By reducing the fault current,
the FCL can protect the power equipments from damages and
enhance the stability of the grid [5]. For live operation, it re-
quires that FCL should be able to quickly react to the fault within
1/4 cycles and recovery within 100–200 ms, and be low in the
operation loss and normal-state impedance, and be effective to
limit both the peak fault current and steady-state fault current.
Among all kinds of FCL, superconducting FCL is one of the
promising devices.
A. 10 kV/1.5 kA Fault Current Limiter
The HTS fault current limiter project, which was supported by
“863” Program, CAS and Beijing City Government, was devel-
oped by IEE in collaboration with TIPC, Hunan Power Company,
Northwest Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals (NIN) and Beijing
General Research Institute for Non-Ferrous Metals (GRINM).
In order that the FCL can satisfy all the requirements of live
operation, we suggested an improved bridge-type FCL which
employs the bridge-type FCL and IGCT switches as shown in
Fig. 3. At normal conditions, the line current can flow in ei-
ther direction through the bridge, and the IGCT switches are
XIAO AND LIN: RECENT PROGRESS OF POWER APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTOR IN CHINA
Fig. 3. Schematic of the improved bridge-type FCL.
TABLE III
DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE SUPERCONDUCTING COIL FOR THE FCL
switch-on, therefore, it performs just like the bridge-type FCL.
During fault condition, the first peak is limited by the HTS coil
which is against the rapid ramping of the current. When the cur-
rent of the HTS coil reaches a set value, the IGCT switches are
then switch off, and the resistors are plunged into the line, the
fault current is then limited by both the coil and the resistors.
For this principle, the steady-state fault current can also be re-
stricted effectively.
Table III shows the design parameters of the HTS coil for
the FCL. The coils were structured in double pancakes. The
four double pancakes at each end of the coil were wound with
two parallel Bi-2223 tapes supplied by AMSC, and the other
six double pancakes in the coil were wound with single tapes,
leading to the homogenous current distribution among the tapes.
The cryostats for the HTS coil was made of epoxy material,
which are about 1100 mm in outer diameter and 1400 mm in
height. In order to compensate the loss of the cryostat, G-M
cryo-coolers were used for Phase-A as a demonstration.
The FCL was installed at Gaoxi Substation which is near to
Changcha, the capital city of Hunan Province. Fig. 4 shows the
overview of the FCL. After routine tests, the FCL was then
connected the 10 kV substation, and a three-phase-to-ground
short-circuit was done in the substation. In the test, a prospec-
tive fault current of 3.5 kA was limited to 635 A, the reduction
ratio of short current reached up to 82%. The test result is shown
in Fig. 5.
Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
2357
Fig. 4. The overview of the FCL.
Fig. 5. Test results of 3-phase-to-ground short circuit.
After August 14, 2005, the FCL has been operated in the live
distribution grid for more than 7 months without breakdown. In
August 2006, the cryogenic system was checked, and the system
will be operated for further time at the beginning of October,
2006.
IV. POWER TRANSFORMER
HTS power transformer can serve as compact, environmen-
tally friendly alternatives by reducing 50% both in loss, weight
and size. Besides, it can eliminate risk of environmentally haz-
ardous oil leaks and fires due to the use of LN2 as the dielectric
and cooling fluid, and increase overload rating capability by 2
times without insulation damage or degradation [6].
A. TBEA HTS Power Transformer Project
This project aims to develop a 3-phase HTS power trans-
former with rated parameters of 10.5 kV/400 V/630 kVA, and is
supported by the “863” Program and the Tebian Electric Com-
pany (TBEA), the largest transformer manufacturer in china.
The power transformer was developed by IEE in collaboration
with TBEA.
The transformer windings were designed by using of the
HTS pancake coils made of the hermetic stainless steel-en-
forced multi-filamentary Bi2223/Ag supplied by AMSC, and
2358
TABLE IV
DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE TRANSFORMER
TABLE V
TEST RESULTS OF THE 630 kVA HTS TRANSFORMER
the core was designed by using of the amorphous alloys. Pri-
mary winding is a solenoid wound with 8 layers with cooling
channels in longitudinal, and secondary winding is made of
23 double pancakes connected in parallel. All windings are
wound with a strand consisted of two parallel transposed
multi-filamentary tapes in order to prevent unbalanced current
distribution. Specifications of the transformer are presented in
Table IV.
The routine tests for the transformer were done according
to the state standard. The test results are shown in Table V.
After the tests, it was connected to the live distribution grid of
TBEA headquarter in Changji City, Xinjiang Province. Since
November 2005, it was used for serving the new energy factory
of TBEA for more than 2 months without breakdown. Fig. 6
shows the appearance of the HTS power transformer. Now, the
cryogenic system is being checked and the transformer would
be put into operation again.
B. Zhuzhou Locomotive Transformer Project
This project targeted to study the possibility to use HTS
power transformer as an alternative in electric locomotive. The
project is supported by “863” Program, and is sponsored by
Zhouzhu Locomotive Company.
In this project, a single phase HTS transformer with rated pa-
rameters of 25 kV/6.6 kV/300 kVA was designed and fabricated.
The transformer is 2278 kg in weight and
Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, VOL. 17, NO. 2, JUNE 2007
Fig. 6. Overview of 630 kVA three-phase transformer.
Fig. 7. The 300 kVA single phase transformer.
in size. Tests show that the efficiency is up to 99.87% when the
cryogenic loss is excluded. The transformer is shown in Fig. 7.
V. SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE
A SMES unit can be regarded as quick-responding capacity
of the power system, it can compensate the unbalances of the
reactive power and real power quickly, so that SMES unit can
be used to regulate the power quality and to increase transfer
capacity and protect utility grids from the destabilizing effects
of short-term events such as voltage dips caused by lightning
strikes and downed poles, sudden changes in customer demand
levels and switching operations [7].
A. Fault-Current-Limiting SMES
This project is supported by National Science Foundation
and the “863” Program. Based on the principle of the improved-
bridge-type FCL, IEE proposed a new type SMES, namely
the Fault-Current-Limiting SMES. The principle schematic is
shown in Fig. 8. At normal state, the current regulator and con-
verter act as the bias voltage source of the bridge-type current
limiter, and keep the current of the coil as much as 2 times of
the current of the transmission line. When there are voltage
sags or power unbalance in the system, the power converter can
output a compensating power, keeping the voltage level and the
XIAO AND LIN: RECENT PROGRESS OF POWER APPLICATION OF SUPERCONDUCTOR IN CHINA 2359

Fig. 9. Overview of the prototype FCL-SMES.

Fig. 10. The current and voltage of the system at short-circuit state without
FCL-SMES.

Fig. 8. The topology of the FCL-SMES.

power factor. When there is short circuit fault, the converter

works as a virtual resistor, just like the resistors of the improved
bridge-type FCL, limiting the fault current to an acceptable
level.
In 2005, a prototype FCL-SMES of 100 kJ/20 kVA was made
by IEE, and it was tested at the laboratory. Fig. 9 shows the
overview of the prototype device and Figs. 10, 11 shows the test
results of the FCL-SMES. The test results show that this device
can successfully compensate the voltage sags and limit the fault
current.

B. 500 kJ/150 kVA SMES Unit

This project was supported by “863” Program and Tianwei
Electric Group to develop a SMES unit for demonstration in
the Tsinghua University Information Center. The SMES unit
was made by Tsinghua University in collaboration with Tianwei
Electric Group.
In December 2005, a 500 kJ/150 kVA SMES unit was suc-
cessfully made and tested at the Power System Laboratory with
Fig. 11. The current and voltage of the system at short-circuit state with the
FCL-SMES.
voltage of 230 V. This SMES unit is a current-source type, and
the magnet was made of NbTi wires. The design parameter of
the magnet is shown in Table VI. The test shows that this unit

Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
2360
TABLE VI
DESIGN PARAMETER OF THE 500 kJ MAGNET
Fig. 12. Voltage compensation tests of the 500 kJ/150 kVA SMES unit. Top:
without the SMES, Bottom: with the compensation of the SMES.
can successfully compensate the voltage sags of the system, re-
sults are shown in Fig. 12. This SMES would be used for the
Tsinghua University Information Center early next year.
C. Other Progress in SMES
Under the support of Chinese Academy of Science, a
1 MJ/500 kVA SMES is being developed by IEE. In order to
shift the Bi-2233 hermetic tapes (from AMSC) to YBCO tapes
in the near future, this SMES will employ a Bi-2223 coil as
the energy storage unit. The design parameter of the Bi-2223
coil is shown in Table VII. The 500 kVA power converter
is voltage-source type consisted of 1 MVA DC-DC cascade
current regulator and DC-AC converter.
This SMES will be installed at the Beijing Mentougou Sub-
station and serve for a high technology factory before the end
of 2006.
Besides, a 35 kJ/7 kVA SMES system was developed by
Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
in 2005. The coil made of Bi-2223 tapes is cooled by G-M
cryo-cooler and operated at 20 K. This system is now installed
at the Power System Dynamic Simulation Laboratory of the
university. Tests showed that the SMES can stabilize the tran-
Authorized licensed use limited to: UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO. Downloaded on March 19,2010 at 13:03:44 EDT from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON APPLIED SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, VOL. 17, NO. 2, JUNE 2007
TABLE VII
DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE 1 MJ HTS SMES COIL
sient power angle of the generator at fault condition. Further
study on the stability of power system is being done.
VI. SUMMARY
In last few years, there is a significant progress on the R&D
of HTS power application in China, demonstrators of cables,
FCL, transformers and SMES have been successfully made and
tested, and FCL, HTS Power Cable and Transformer have been
operated at live substations. Demonstrations show the prototype
apparatus are able to serve for the distribution grid successfully.
Besides, a novel equipment of fault-current- limiting SMES has
been made and tested, and a 1 MJ/500 kVA HTS SMES will be
installed at a substation in Beijing.
In order to fabricate practical superconducting power equip-
ments, the cost of the superconducting wires should be fur-
ther reduced, and the cryogenic system should be more cost-
effective and more reliable and safer for long-term operation
without maintains.
REFERENCES
[1] L. Z. Lin and L. Y. Xiao, “The recent progress of HTS power applica-
tion research worldwide and its prospective in the future,” Physics, vol.
35, pp. 491–496, June 2006.
[2] D. Larbalestier, Power Applications of Superconductivity in Germany
and Japan, WTEC Hyper-Librarian, September 1997 [Online]. Avail-
able: http://www.wtec.org/loyola/scpa/
[3] Y. Iwata, “High Tc superconducting power cables,” ISTEC Journal,
vol. 11-1, pp. 60–65, January 1998.
[4] Application for HTS Wires [Online]. Available: http://www.amsuper.
com/
[5] B. Hodges, J. Dvorak, and C. Braun, “Fault control system using solid
state circuit breakers and high temperature superconducting fault cur-
rent limiters,” in Proceedings of the 1996 22nd International Power
Modulator Symposium, June 1996, pp. 232–234.
[6] Y. S. Wang et al., “Development of a 45 kVA single-phase model HTS
transformer,” IEEE Trans. Applied Superconductivity, vol. 16, no. 2,
pp. 1477–1480, June 2006.
[7] C. H. Zhao, L. Y. Xiao, and L. Z. Lin, “The research and develop-
ment of SMES-A review,” Power System Technology, vol. 28, no. 8,
pp. 163–168, August 2004.